Australian wicketkeeping legend and national selector Rod Marsh has said that veteran wicketkeeper-batsman and Ashes hero Brad Haddin has earned the right to decide when he can retire.
Although last year Haddin was thought to be pensioned off in favour of a player a decade younger than him, his rousing show in the winter Ashes on its opening day in Brisbane showed how much more he has left to give to the game, and made sure that the urn was back in Australia's grasp before afternoon tea in Perth.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Marsh said that Haddin has earned the right to retire on his own terms following his current performance, and again insisted that Haddin was never dropped and was always the No.1 wicketkeeper of the team.
The report mentioned that Marsh was the selector on duty in the West Indies in March 2012 when Haddin rushed home to confront every parent's worst fear, the serious illness of a child, and he reflected Haddin's influence on Australian cricket since he was recalled as Michael Clarke's vice-captain ahead of the Ashes after the India debacle.
Marsh further said that although Haddin went through a horrific time, he managed to overcome that and kept any harm from undoing his cricket skills and sparkled as he decided that he still has more cricket left in him.
However, Marsh admitted that he had a feeling that if Australia was to get to No.1 in all three forms of the game, Haddin might retire as it might be a target that he has set for himself.